On Sunday, the stakes are high in the inaugural WWE pay per view "Battleground," hailing from the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, N.Y. as the vacant WWE Championship hangs in the balance in a deeply personal war between Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton, while CM Punk aims to mow down the monstrous new "Paul Heyman guy" Ryback, ECW alum Rob Van Dam and Alberto Del Rio go hardcore for the World Heavyweight Championship and the Rhodes family seeks to get their jobs back against the nigh-unstoppable trio of The Shield.
Damien Sandow will take on Dolph Ziggler in the the WWE's free Battleground Kickoff show to air via YouTUbe.com, WWE.com, the WWE App, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo!, Google+, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox, Sony PS3, Pinterest or Pheed prior to the start of the pay-per-view. With Sandow still holding the Money In The Bank suitcase and Ziggler the victim of attacks by The Shield, expect Sandow to return to his winning ways in order to build up his momentum for a shot at the title.
WWE Divas Championship: AJ Lee (c) vs. Brie Bella
With momentum not scene on the Divas Division in years behind her, WWE Divas Champion AJ Lee has promised to take down every single one of the Total Divas one by one, to prove she is the best woman to ever hold the title. Now, the unstable "Black Widow" aims to add another victim, former Divas Champion Brie Bella to her list.
Prediction
Brie has been living out her dreams between the success of the E! reality show, her real-life engagement to Daniel Bryan and may add the WWE Divas title to things that make her happy this month - with the title heavily promoted on E!'s Total Divas show.
Kofi Kingston vs. Bray Wyatt
Kingston has had the buzzards circling around him the last week as he's gained the attention of Bray Wyatt and the Wyatt Family for no other reason than just being himself. The Wyatts warned Kingston they were coming for him after Kingston defeated Fandango on Monday Night Raw. Kingston accepted his challenge on Friday Night Smackdown.
Prediction
Despite his bravery in the ring, expect Kingston, a former WWE Intercontinental, Tag Team and U.S. champion, to join Kane as the latest victim of the Wyatts, with Bray introducing Kingston to Sister Abigail taking the victory.
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Curtis Axel (c) w/Paul Heyman vs. R-Truth
R-Truth, a former WWE U.S. and Tag Team Champion, earned an Intercontinental title match against Axel after defeating the champion on Monday Night Raw with a little help from former "Heyman Guy" CM Punk.
Prediction
Punk won't be around to help R-Truth this time around as Axel will keep the title with an assist from his mentor Paul Heyman.
The Shield (Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns w/ Dean Ambrose) vs. The Rhodes Family (Cody Rhodes & Goldust w/ Dusty Rhodes)
The Shield's Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns - the current WWE Tag-Team champions, will take on the Cody Rhodes and Goldust in a non-title match that has huge stakes in play - should Rhodes and Goldust win, they win a contract with the company but should they lose, not only is the band of brothers also done with the WWE, but father, WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, will be fired as a WWE talent developer. The Rhodes will need to keep their anger in check if they want employment with the WWE after the attack on their father by The Shield and The Big Show.
Prediction
The Rhodes will likely win their jobs back - with U.S. champion Dean Ambrose and Dusty getting involved somehow - but expect a Triple H swerve that will put the family in their place.
World Heavyweight Championship, BATTLEGROUND Hardcore Rules Match: Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. Rob Van Dam
It's honed, deadly wrestling technique vs harcore high-flying acrobatics as Del Rio will defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Van Dam in a Battleground Hardcore Rules match.
Del Rio has had some help from Randy Orton in softening up RVD, who assaulted the challenger a couple of weeks ago on Raw, giving not one second thought to getting disqualified and decimating the former Extreme Championship Wrestling and WWE champion. Del Rio waited for Orton to finish with Van Dam to beat him up while he was down. But now the environment shits back into Van Dam's favor, the easy-going hardcore specialist having excelled in this kind of match during his days in ECW; and in hardcore matches, Van Dam has won multiple championships, including the WWE and ECW world titles, against the likes of John Cena, Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle and even The Rock. Will the tecnical guru Del Rio be able to keep pace with the ever-dangerous Van Dam in a match that favors his unorthodox, high-flying opponent?
Prediction
While hardcore legend RVD is extremely comfortable in hardcore environments, ADR will take advantage of RVD's injuries to retain his World Heavyweight title.
CM Punk vs. Ryback w/Paul Heyman
Ever since his former mentor betrayed him and cost him a WWE title shot at Money In the Bank, CM Punk has wanted nothing more than to get his hands on Paul Heyman. Now, to get his hands on his former friend, Punk must overcome an old, dangerous rival in Ryback as they renew their rivalry from last year.
Punk had his opportunity at Night of Champions until Ryback decided he was tired of Heyman getting "bullied" by the former WWE champion. Punk tried to cheer himself up at the prospect of getting his hands on Heyman, celebrating with his hometown Chicago crowd, talking about his beloved 2013 National Hockey League champion Chicago Blackhawks, before Ryback ruined his party and put Punk through a table when he tried to attack Heyman. One year ago, Punk and Ryback clashed during a heated rivalry at Hell In a Cell for the WWE Championship, and again over several months afterwards, with a more "Respect"-minded Punk managing to come out on top every time thanks to assists from interfering parties, chiefly Heyman himself, then in the services of Punk. With the "Mad Scientist" now in Ryback's corner, will "The Best in the World" prevail or fall before the might of Paul Heyman's newest "guy"?
Prediction
Punk should be able to outsmart and defeat Ryback, but will probably have his chance to get his hands on his former mentor - who is a king at out-swerving his enemies.
WWE Championship (vacant): Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton
For the second time in two months, it's "The Beard" vs. "The Viper" for the crown as Bryan and Orton meet for the now-vacant WWE title in the main event.
The "Apex Predator" has been on a rampage since Stephanie McMahon challenged him to tap into his inner "Viper," destroying The Miz in front of his family and hurting Rob Van Dam the following week, possibly derailing RVD's dreams of holding the WWE Heavyweight title. Orton finished his "preparation" for Battleground by taking out Bryan, on Monday Night Raw, in front of his fiancee Brie Bella, promising her that her future husband will not be walking down the aisle if he continues his pursuit of the WWE Title. Bryan--who told Orton he did not need any extra motivation to win back his title he cleanly won at Summerslam against John Cena and Night of Champions against Orton--will have the odds stacked against him with Triple H lurking around looking to do what he deems is "best for business" and The Shield, who have acted as personal bodyguards for Orton as of late. It will be the red-hot roll, technical savvy and plucky resolve of the Master of the "Yes Lock" against the dark, remorseless fury of the Viper, backed by the corporate assets of the McMahons, for the most coveted prize in sports entertainment. Who will walk out of Buffalo, N.Y., as the new WWE Champion?
Prediction
Despite his remarkable roll in recent months, Bryan will watch helplessly as Orton will likely win back the WWE title for the eighth time.
Television
To watch the Battleground WWE pay-per-view, broadcast beginning at 8 p.m. EST, please contact your cable or satellite provider for information on how to order the event.
Live Stream (online)
Live stream coverage of the Battleground Kickoff match begins at 7:30 p.m. EST and can be seen on Youtube.com. Live stream coverage of Battleground can be seen on WWE.com
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased at the First Niagra Center Web site.
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